Itinerary followed during this Interrail throughout Germany, Denmark and Switzerland
Cologne - Koblenz - Copenhagen - Helsingor - Hillerod - Roskilde - Berlin - Potsdam - Rhine cruise - Freiburg - Strasbourg - Black Forest - Rhine Waterfalls - Schaffhausen - Stein am Rhein - Konstanz - Zurich - Basel - Interlaken - Luzern - Zermatt - Brig - Bern - Geneva - Heidelberg - Munich - Dachau - Fussen - Nuremberg - Rothenburg (ODT) - Wurzburg - Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen - Brienz - Geneva |
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 Dispensable |
Worthwhile |
Very recommendable |
Marvel |
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Our first excursion was to this French city located in the Alsace region, that we reached after more than an hour in a train.
Water canals cross the old city. The canals, the cathedral, the streets, the lovely district of the "Little France" and many other things make of Strasbourg one of the most beautiful cities of France, despite the old city was seriously damaged during the bombings of II World War. |
The imposing cathedral , started in 13th century, is one of the top works of the Gothic style. The decoration on the facade is superb and the great 142 m. high tower finished in 1439 was the highest in the Christian world until the 19th century. Inside you will see gothic marvels such has the pulpit or the Angels pillar. The stained-glass windows from 13th and 14th centuries and the astronomic clock are fantastic as well.
If you remember this, I recommend having a look on the shop window in front of the cathedral main gate. I was astonished with a really splendid chess, the prettiest I have ever seen. It's a pity that the prize was splendid as well. |
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The old city is also pretty nice. You will run into precious houses, such as the Kammerzell house (15th and 16th centuries) or palaces such as the Rohan palace, built from 1732 to 1742, which was the Napoleon's residence in the 19th century. It is constructed imitating Versailles . The palace keeps some museums. There are beautiful squares such as Gutenberg´s square (Gutenberg lived for 10 years in the city) and several churches. |
| When we ended in the old part, we walked into the picturesque district called "Little France" . |
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The houses are really fine, with its characteristic beams on the facade, from 16th and 17th centuries. The finest house is the Tanners house, in which the first floor protrudes from the facade. Fishermen, millers and tanners inhabited these quarters. The water canals crossing the streets add a special beauty to this place. |
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| Near the "Little France" we found the "Covered bridges" and the Vauban dam . The first one is a bridge-wall from 13th century with several towers. The name comes from the Middle Ages, when the bridge was made of wood and was covered in a tile roof. From the bridge you distinguish the particular dam from the end of the 17th century, that was placed there as a reinforcement of the city defences. When the lockgates were closed, the southern edge of the city was inundated to avoid any attack attempt. |
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It is necessary a full day to visit Strasbourg. We wanted to see Colmar the same day, as we were told about its beauty. It is a typical Alsacian locality near Strasbourg, but we didn't have the time. |
